Minnesota Nursing Home Lawyer

Nursing Home Elder Abuse and Neglect

Nursing home abuse and nursing home neglect of the elderly and vulnerable in nursing homes and other facilities occurs in many forms.  Kenneth LaBore is an attorney who has years of experience with dealing with the complex legal and medical issues often present in nursing home and abuse cases and can assist your loved ones with holding the wrongdoers accountable.

Some types of abuse are obvious such as elder sexual or elder physical assault or financial exploitation.  Others forms of abuse and neglect are less noticeable and are often the result of having fewer nursing staff and aides than are needed and required.  Inadequate staffing and poor training in nursing homes and lead to many forms of avoidable neglect such as: falls, pressure ulcers (bed-sores), medication errors, dehydration and malnourishment, urinary tract infections, unsupervised residents wandering or suffering burn injuries and a multitude of other problems.

Kenneth LaBore is part of a law firm which  is dedicated to holding nursing homes accountable for providing quality care which meets the needs of their residents as promised by the facility in the contracts they sign with the government, Medicare and Medicaid, as well as with private paying families and residents.   The facilities promise to provide each resident with the: “highest quality of care practicable”.

If you suspect abuse or neglect to any vulnerable adult, please contact the Minnesota Department of Health where you can file a confidential report protecting those unable to do so for themselves.

Assisting Living Facilities Abuse / Neglect

When someone moves into a building that offers Assisted Living services (also known as Housing with Services) they are required to sign a rental agreement or lease which covers the occupancy issues of the apartment or living space. Additionally, the resident is usually requested to sign a Service Agreement which deals with the particular services to be provided from a licensed home care provider.   The contracted services can be provided by either outside home care providers or the property owners.

An Assisted Living licensed home care provider must provide basic services, such as on-call 24 hour nursing access, with daily checks on each resident and help with services such as laundry, meals, transportation and at least three activities of daily living. There must also be a staff person available 24/7 who is awake and able to respond quickly. The facility must have a method to reach for help for health and safety needs 24/7.

Minnesota Assisted Living providers must also clearly state what services are offered, allowing consumers to more easily compare facilities and choose one with the appropriate level of care. Minnesota’s Assisted Living Bill of Rights creates specific rights for residents of Assisted Living Facilities, including fair and respectful treatment.  It further allows the right to choose services and providers.   It also gives the right to a current Care Plan, to participate in your care and to change medical or other providers if desired.  There are safeguards to basic human rights such as: the right to self-determination, to privacy, to safety, to speak out and specifically prohibits harmful treatment.

Common forms of neglect and abuse in an Assisted Living facility involves failing to provide adequate services and supervision of vulnerable residents. If you suspect abuse or neglect to any vulnerable adult in an Assisted Living, please contact our firm for information and assistance on how to file a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Health and have the matter investigated and how to hold the facility accountable.

Minnesota Medicaid / Medicare Fraud

If you suspect that services billed to Medicaid and Medicare are not being provided as contracted in a Nursing Home or Assisted Living facility it may be fraud. Our elderly are put at risk by such behavior.  Not only are needed services for vulnerable persons not being provided or not being performed as promised, the wrong is often intensified by charging for inadequate or non existent care.

If you suspect billing or other fraud in an Nursing Home or Assisted Living facility please contact a Minnesota Nursing Home Lawyer for information or assistance on how to hold facilities engaging in fraud at the expense of the elderly accountable.